Esther 1:12 – “But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s bidding conveyed through the eunuchs.  THEN the king became extremely angry, and his rage consumed him.”

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, I was drawn to a verse in Esther.   The situation of Esther 1:12 is intriguing.   As I read, the Lord began to impress upon me the manifold danger and damage of excessive anger that consumes the individual.

In Esther 2:1, there is a hint that the king regretted his harsh action born out of his rage.  I say that because after his anger subsided, he remembered the Queen. 

Ephesians 4:26 enjoins us to be angry but not let it produce sin.  Matthew 5:21-23 warns that excessive anger is the seed of murder and places us in danger of judgment.

Anger has consequences.   We like to call it righteousness indignation, but it is often not borne from righteousness.  Anger can be a sin and produce sinful attitudes and actions.   Anger left unchecked and excessive produces depression.  It damages relationships and causes internal stress that affects our bodies, souls, and spirits.

Out of rage, words that do damage and can never be recovered are spoken.   

Anger is evidence of heart sadness.   Joy and anger are not compatible.  Anger is evidence of a sense of powerlessness and loss of control.  It came from a sense of shame, anxiety, inadequacy, and even isolation.  It is rooted in pride, a sense of entitlement, or hurt.  It is an expression of fear. 

Physically excessive anger that consumes is irrational and releases toxins that destroy health.  It hinders fellowship with God and others.   It hardens the heart and blames others and God.

The only thing that should consume us is our passion for God.  I hate sin but refuse to focus on the sinner.  Today, our world is consumed with hate, and many are consumed with anger.  Hate justifies itself, elevating the hater to god status and the hated to devil status.  

The king allowed his wounded pride to boil over into rage that consumed him and caused him to act rashly.   

Love and hate are incompatible.   Love focuses outside self, but hate focuses on self.  If we belong to Christ, rage has no legitimate place in us.  As believers, we must learn to love everyone, even those who hate us.  We forgive with our hearts and bless those who curse us.  We can expose sin and error without allowing hate to consume us.

Excessive anger reveals a loss of control, and we give power to those we are angry at.   What consumes us controls us.  Therefore, just as we have received the love of God, we must give love.  Let love be the consuming passion of our hearts.  Love others because God loves you.

Reject anger and never let it gain a foothold; it will poison the soul and lead us into the destruction of hate!